india-laos-and-indonesia-join-decarbonising-rice-trials-at-wef

Trials for the Decarbonising Rice project, winner of the Breakthrough Scientific Contribution Award at the recently concluded World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, have been expanded across India, Laos, and Indonesia, it was announced on Friday.

Decarbonising Rice, led by Singaporean non-profit Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, adopts an integrative, three-pronged approach aimed at revolutionising the sustainability of rice—one of the world’s most vital crops.

The initiative utilises novel scientific methodologies while fostering collaboration among rice farmers, governments, and the private sector.

During phase-one trials conducted in Singapore and India, the project achieved a reduction in methane emissions by 20 to 50 per cent and water usage by around 50 per cent. It also reported a 5 to 10 per cent improvement in yields. Production has now expanded to 100-hectare trials across India, Laos, and Indonesia.

The Breakthrough Scientific Contribution Award is one of five cross-sector collaborations recognised at the Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) Awards, presented at the WEF in 2025. The winning collaborations exemplify the scale, pace, and innovation required to address pressing global environmental crises.

The GAEA Awards celebrate partnerships advancing crucial climate and nature goals in five categories: climate, nature, and resilience science; innovation ecosystems; business action; philanthropic-public-private partnerships; and intergenerational leadership.

The five awarded collaborations will receive tailored support throughout 2025 to scale their impact and drive systemic change.

“The GAEA Awards recognise institutions and partnerships catalysing transformative change for climate and nature,” said Gim Huay Neo, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum.

 

“By showcasing successful innovations and collaborations across industry partners and between government, business, and civil society, we hope to inspire more to step forward and work together to shape a sustainable future for all,” Neo added.

 

The WEF Annual Meeting 2025 was held in Davos-Klosters from 20 to 24 January, convening global leaders under the theme Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.